Time-related aortic inflammatory response, as assessed with 18F-FDG PET/CT, in patients hospitalized with severely or critical COVID-19

Aim

Arterial involvement has been implicated in the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) imaging is a valuable tool for the assessment of aortic inflammation and is a predictor of outcome. We sought to prospectively assess the presence of aortic inflammation and its time-dependent trend in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Between November 2020 and May 2021, in this pilot, case-control study, we recruited 20 patients with severe or critical COVID-19 (mean age of 59±12 years), while 10 age and sex-matched individuals served as the control group. Aortic inflammation was assessed by measuring 18F-FDG uptake in PET/CT performed 20–120 days post-admission. Global aortic target to background ratio (GLA-TBR) was calculated as the sum of TBRs of ascending and descending aorta, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta divided by 4. Index aortic segment TBR (IAS-TBR) was designated as the aortic segment with the highest TBR.

Results

There was no significant difference in aortic 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake between patients and controls (GLA-TBR: 1.46 [1.40–1.57] vs. 1.43 [1.32–1.70], respectively, p=0.422 and IAS-TBR: 1.60 [1.50–1.67] vs. 1.50 [1.42–1.61], respectively, p=0.155). There was a moderate correlation between aortic TBR values (both GLA and IAS) and time distance from admission to 18F-FDG PET-CT scan (Spearman's rho=−0.528, p=0.017 and Spearman's rho=−0.480, p=0.032, respectively), Figure 1. Patients who were scanned less than or equal to 60 days from admission (n=11) had significantly higher GLA-TBR values compared to patients that were examined more than 60 days post-admission (GLA-TBR: 1.53 [1.42–1.60] vs. 1.40 [1.33–1.45], respectively, p=0.016 and IAS-TBR: 1.64 [1.51–1.74] vs. 1.52 [1.46–1.60], respectively, p=0.038). There was a significant difference in IAS-TBR between patients scanned ≤60 days and controls (1.64 [1.51–1.74] vs. 1.50 [1.41–1.61], p=0.036), Figure 2.

Conclusion

This is the first study suggesting that aortic inflammation, as assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, is increased in the early post-COVID phase in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 and largely resolves over time. Our findings may have important implications for the understanding of the course of the disease and for improving our preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Acute effects of COVID-19 vaccination on inflammatory, macrovasular and microvascular biomarkers

Purpose

To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines were the first to be adopted by vaccination programs worldwide. We sought to investigate the short-term effect of mRNA vaccine administration on endothelial function and arterial stiffness.

Methods

Thirty-two participants (mean age 37±8 years, 20 men) that received the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were studied in 3 sessions in a sequence-randomized, sham-controlled, assessor-blinded, cross-over design. Primary outcome was endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and secondary outcomes were aortic stiffness, evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), microvascular function that was estimated with hyperemic mean blood flow velocity (HMBFV) of the brachial artery, and inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukins (hsIL-6 and hsIL-1b) in blood samples. The outcomes were assessed prior to, and at 8h, 24h post the 1st dose of vaccination, and 8h, 24h and 48h post the 2nd.

Results

There was an increase in hsCRP that was apparent at 24h after both the 1st dose (−0.60 [95% Confidence intervals [CI]: −1.60 to −0.20], p=0.013) and the 2nd dose (max median difference at 48h −6.60 [95% CI: −9.80 to −3.40], p<0.001) compared to sham. Similarly, interleukins also increased. The vaccine did not change PWV. FMD remained unchanged during the 1st dose but decreased significantly by 1.5% (95% CI: 0.1% to 2.9%, p=0.037) at 24h post the 2nd dose (Figure). FMD values returned towards baseline at 48h. HMBFV remained unchanged during the 1st dose but at 48h post the 2nd dose was numerically lower than the sham procedure but the difference between the 2 sessions was not statistically significant (max mean difference at 48h 8.6 [95% CI: −0.6 to 17.8], p=0.067).

Conclusions

Our study shows that the mRNA vaccine causes a prominent increase in inflammatory markers, especially after the 2nd dose and a transient deterioration of endothelial function at 24h that returns towards baseline at 48h. These results confirm the short-term cardiovascular safety of the vaccine.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

“Stifflammation” in hypertension is a predictor of future cardiovascular hospitalizations

Background/Introduction

Hypertension is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, inflammation and arterial stiffness.

Purpose

We sought to investigate the role of inflammation and arterial stiffness in the prognosis of cardiovascular hospitalizations in hypertensive patients over an extended follow-up.

Methods

One hundred and seventy-three patients (mean age 52.5±13.2 years, 57% males) untreated hypertensives at baseline without cardiovascular disease, were included in the study. Arterial stiffness was assessed with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured in venous blood samples. Other markers of subclinical organ damage [left ventricular mass index (LVMI) by echocardiography and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)] were also evaluated in all patients.

Results

During 13.6±0.4 years of follow-up, forty-four patients (25.4%) patients were admitted in hospital due to cardiovascular causes. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, only higher hsCRP (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.34, 95% Confidence intervals [CI]: 1.22–9.51, P=0.02) and increased PWV (OR = 1.48, 95% Confidence intervals [CI]: 1.03–2.12, P=0.036) were associated with higher risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations, which was independent of age, gender, systolic blood pressure, LVMI and presence of diabetes. In further analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the ability of hsCRP and PWV to discriminate subjects with cardiovascular hospitalization. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CIs of the ROC curves were AUC=0.69 (95% CI: 0.59–0.78, p<0.001) for hsCRP and AUC=0.74 (95% CI: 0.65–0.83, P<0.001) for PWV (Figure).

Conclusions

Our study shows the independent complimentary prognostic role of inflammation and arterial stiffness in the prognosis of hypertensives even in studies with extended follow-up.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. ROC curves for the prediction of outcome

Short-term health-related quality of life in patients with ischaemic stroke after PFO closure

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction/Purpose: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is common in asymptomatic adults and is associated with cryptogenic stroke (CS). We sought to evaluate the impact of PFO closure in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PFO patients with CS. 

Method

In this pilot study, 19 patients (mean age 47 ± 7.7; 13 male) who underwent PFO closure at our center were invited to a short-term clinical follow up (mean follow-up period 6-10 months). All patients had suffered an ischaemic stroke and their disability level was assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS, no significant disability 63%). HRQoL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) preoperatively and at follow-up. 

Results

Both SF36 and EQ-5D scores improved after the operation as shown by the self-rating scores (20,67% and 40,52% higher scores, respectively). Patients with major mobility problems were more likely to be current smokers (r = 0.481) and those who had lower scores on the MRS scale (r=-0.571) rated higher their scale diagram.  The categories of energy/fatigue (r = 0.459; p = 0.048), social functioning (r = 0.547; p = 0.015) and pain (r = 0.550; p = 0.015) were positively correlated with physical function. Finally, there was a positive correlation between role limitations due to emotional problems and energy/fatigue (r = 0,519; p = 0.023), and between energy/fatigue and emotional well-being (r = 0.519; p = 0,023).

Conclusions

The results of our study indicate that shortly after PFO, subjects perceive improvements in their QoL. However, it seems that poorly rated physical function was more common in active smokers, and affects patients" social life and their emotional state. Health care professionals should encourage these patients to participate in rehabilitation and psychological support programs postoperatively.

Aortic stiffness and incident diabetes: the hard, bittersweet truth

Background/Introduction

Aortic stiffness increases with advancing age and is a major risk factor for age-related morbidity and mortality. Aortic stiffness and glycaemic dysregulation are related; however, temporal relationships between aortic stiffness and incidence of diabetes have not been fully delineated.

Purpose

We sought to investigate the role of arterial stiffness in the prediction of incident diabetes.

Methods

376 untreated hypertensive patients (mean age 52.6±12.5 years, 201 males) without known cardiovascular disease and without known history of diabetes, were included in the study. Markers of subclinical organ damage [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)] were evaluated in all patients. eGFR was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose were measured in venous blood samples. Patients were prospectively followed-up, for incidence of diabetes as defined by the American Diabetes Association criteria.

Results

During a median 13.5 years follow-up, forty-six patients (12.2%) patients were diagnosed with diabetes. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, only higher PWV (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.271, 95% Confidence intervals [CI]: 1.002–1.612, P=0.048) was associated with higher risk of incident diabetes, which was independent of age, sex, pulse pressure, HbA1c, fasting blood glucose and eGFR. In further analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the ability of PWV to discriminate subjects with diabetes. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CIs of the ROC curve was AUC=0.66 (95% CI: 0.58–0.74, P=0.001) for PWV (Figure 1).

Conclusions

In our cohort, higher aortic stiffness was associated with higher risk of incident diabetes.

Figure 1. ROC curve for the prediction of diabetes

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

P3833Low heart rate variability is associated with future arrhythmic events in hypertension

Background/Introduction

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction and target organ damage are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and arrhythmias.

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of heart rate variability (HRV) and markers of target organ damage in the prognosis of future arrhythmic events.

Methods

We studied 292 untreated at baseline hypertensives (mean age 53±13, 153 males). Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by analysis of short-term HRV measures over 24-h using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the standard deviation of the measurements. Echocardiography was also performed and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was estimated with the Demereux formula. Aortic stiffness was assessed with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and wave reflections with aortic augmentation index corrected for heart rate (Alx@75). Patients were followed up for a median period of 13 years. The primary endpoint was a composite of atrial/ventricular tachycardias, symptomatic multiple premature ventricular contractions, second and third-degree heart blocks and pacemaker/defibrillator placement.

Results

In comparison without events, patients with the primary endpoint (n=37, 13%) had lower 24-h daytime HRV (9.6 beats per minute vs. 11.1 beats per minute, p=0.005), higher systolic blood pressure (168 mmHg vs. 163 mmHg, p=0.003), higher cfPWV (8.4 m/s vs. 7.7 m/s, p=0.005), higher LVMI (133 g/m2 vs. 122 g/m2, p=0.002) and higher AIx@75 (29.0% vs. 26.3%, p=0.043). In further analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the ability of HRV, cfPWV, LVMI and AIx@75 to discriminate subjects with arrhythmic events. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CIs of the ROC curves were AUC=0.35 (95% CI: 0.26–0.44, p=0.003) for HRV, AUC=0.64 (95% CI: 0.54–0.73, P<0.006) for cfPWV, AUC=0.67 (95% CI: 0.58–0.75, P=0.001) for LVMI and AUC=0.55 (95% CI: 0.47–0.64, P=0.298) for AIx@75 (Figure). In Cox regression analysis, only HRV was associated with increased risk of arrhythmic events (Hazard ratio per 1 unit =0.87, 95% Confidence intervals 0.76 to 0.995, p=0.043) when adjusted for age, gender, cfPWV, LVMI and AIx@75.

ROC curves of HRV & target organ damage

Conclusions

Low heart rate variability is associated with increased risk of future arrhythmic events suggesting an early sympathovagal imbalance that could lead to future events in hypertension.

Clinical and molecular description of the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with a maternally inherited microduplication 22q11.2 of 2.5 Mb

Microduplications of 22q11.2 have been recently characterized as a new genomic duplication syndrome showing an extremely variable phenotype ranging from normal or mild learning disability to multiple congenital defects and sharing some overlapping features with DiGeorge/Velocardiofacial syndrome (DGS/VCFS). We report on the prenatal diagnosis of a 22q11.2 microduplication in a fetus with normal development that was referred for chromosomal analysis at 17 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age. Pregnancy was the result of an IVF-ICSI attempt after 4 years of infertility, mainly due to severe oligoasthenoteratospermia of the father. Amniocentesis was undertaken and cytogenetic analysis revealed an apparently normal male karyotype. Multiple Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) revealed a microduplication in the 22q11.2 chromosome region. Parental analysis showed that the 22q11.2 microduplication has been inherited from the otherwise healthy mother. Analysis with high resolution array-CGH showed that the size of the microduplication is 2.5 Mb and revealed the genes that are duplicated, including the TBX1 gene. The parents elected to continue with the pregnancy and the infant is now five months old and shows normal development.

Clinical and molecular description of a fetus in prenatal diagnosis with a rare de novo ring 10 and deletions of 12.59 Mb in 10p15.3-p14 and 4.22 Mb in 10q26.3

Ring chromosomes are rare cytogenetic findings and are mostly associated with an abnormal phenotype. We report on the prenatal diagnosis of a ring chromosome 10 in a fetus in which talipes equinovarus was incidentally found during routine obstetric ultrasound at 22 weeks of gestation. Amniocentesis was undertaken and cytogenetic analysis revealed a de novo non-mosaic apparently stable ring chromosome 10 replacing one of the two homologs. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) revealed subtelomeric deletions in both the short and long arm of chromosome 10. Analysis with high resolution micro-array based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH), defined the ring chromosome as del 10p15.3-p14 (12.59 Mb in size) and del 10q26.3 (4.22 Mb in size) and revealed the genes that are deleted. After elected termination of the pregnancy at 27th week of gestation a detailed autopsy of the fetus allowed for genotype-phenotype correlations. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a de novo ring chromosome 10 which is reported during prenatal diagnosis and is thoroughly investigated with array CGH and autopsy study.